Deepika Black Opium Masala Cones

 

Highly fragranced cone from Deepika. The pack does say masala, though this presents closer to a perfumed incense. I think the distinction between perfumed and masala incense blurs on occasion, as a number of masala incenses do use liquid scents - anything from essential oils, through perfumes, to DEP (or agarbatti oil). When a masala incense relies heavily on liquid scents I tend to refer to them as perfumed masala. 

Cones are harder to detect the difference between masala and perfumed because they tend to look the same as they are approximately made they same way: the ingredients are made into a moist paste, which is then shaped (by hand or by mould) into a cone and left to dry. 

I like the scent of this. It is not shy at making itself known, but is not loud or aggressive. It's an attractive, characterful scent. There are a number of opium or black opium scents. They are based on  the 1977 perfume  by Yves Saint Laurent. That this is based on a well known perfume indicates even more that this is a perfumed cone rather than a masala, despite what the box says (I have learned over the years to not accept indiscriminately as fact what an incense manufacturer says).

Date: July 2022     Score: 32

Deepika Fragrance

Opium incenses

Deepika Palo Santo Masala Cones

 

Floral and fruit aroma on cone. Mildly woody aroma on the burn - a little hot and smoky. Modest everyday masala cone - a little too smoky for repeat purchase. Not offensive, just not that good. 

Date: July heatwave 2022     Score: 21 

Deepika Fragrance

Deepika Sandalwood Masala Cones

 

Pleasantly though unremarkable masala incense cone. Mild sandalwood aroma. Modest everyday incense. 

Available on Amazon  as part of a pack of five assorted Deepika and a fake Satya for £7.  The sticks are sold in various locations: Silverstone Australia, Etsy, and eBay.  

They're OK, but not something I would bother to buy again. 

Date: July heatwave 2022    Score: 26 

***

Deepika Fragrance

Sandalwood

Deepika White Sage Masala Cones

 

Attractively pleasant masala cone bought from Amazon as part of  a package of five plus a Satya for £7.  I got it as an add on to make up a £20 purchase in order to get free delivery. Sadly the Satya is a crude fake. The quality and scent is OK, but it's not Satya Nag Champa - it's a pleasant, sweet, flowery cone, so no worries about it. But it's not top drawer. 

I have not found out much about Deepika. The company is called Deepika Fragrance, and there is a website listed on the boxes, but it is not active, and some attempts to reach it have led to spoof sites, so be careful!  I found out that the company is based in Bangalore, and is run by a Hindu family, headed by Harish Gupta, with the contact person being  Ajay Gupta. I also found some photos of the shop on 1st Block, Rajajinagar: 

The Deepika White Sage cones appear to be made from a masala paste and formed in a mould, then dried firm, during which the top sometimes droops. The scent on the cone is quite herbal, fresh, and cleansing with notes of cologne (plum, musk, patchouli, alcohol). Very nice. These scents return on the burn, though mildly blurred with minor off-notes from smoke and hot charcoal. On the whole a pleasant everyday masala cone. This is not top drawer stuff, but is perfectly fine for an everyday burn, creating a decent slightly woody/musky scent with some herbal awareness of sage. Nice.  

 

 

Date: July 2022   Score: 29 

***

Deepika Fragrance

White Sage

Koya's Eva Sandal Premium Incense

 

A pleasant everyday perfumed incense. Good, gentle, informative background scent based on woody notes, mainly sandalwood.  It's not elaborate, but it works fine.  We've enjoyed burning these sticks. Be quite happy to buy these again as a low cost everyday incense. 



Date: July 2022    Score:   30 

Sandalwood

Koya's Agarbathi